7 Days Driving Trip in Ireland - Mayo, Galway, Clare, Kerry, Cork?

MotherAndSon · Newbie

7 Days Driving Trip in Ireland - Mayo, Galway, Clare, Kerry, Cork?

tony2phones · Guru

I am biased but would stick north of the Shannon, with the exception of Thoor Ballylee which is still closed awaiting the long promised renovation work.Kilmacduagh Abbey on the Burren side of Gort would be an alternative in the area and Coole park is rich with the autumn colours.

With the rest of your list for Mayo,Galway and Clare you will easily fill your available time. I would slip in a detour to Clonmacnoise by Athlone either heading out or back. Not pushing the religious element but Knock Shrine isn't far from your possible route.

http://www.coolepark.ie/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjhphotos/198131396/

http://www.moytura.com/clonmacnoise.htm

http://www.knock-shrine.ie/

Michele Erdvig · Host

MotherAndSon,

Welcome to my forum. One thing to keep in mind for November is the short daylight hours. Driving at night in Ireland is not advised for tourists unless it is just going into town for dinner. You will certainly want to check into your accommodations before sunset.

We all have our favorite places and it is tough to choose. You might ask your mother to put things in order of importance. That might help you make a decision. You will also want to keep in mind that some things like whale watching, boat trips to the Aran Islands or Skellig Michael are weather dependant. You might not get to do them. Have alternative plans in place.

Tony's suggestions of Mayo, Galway and Clare are fine. If you find the south more enticing you might want to do Clare, Kerry and Cork. But you are correct that fitting in everything on your list is not a good idea.

Michele

CowboyCraic · Guru

I noticed that on your Galway list is Dun Aonghasa, which is located on Inis Mor. Dun Aonghasa is accessed by a rather steep path. They do have a small static display at the base for those not wishing to make the hike. As Michele indicated, reaching Inis Mor is weather dependet, as the ferries won't run in stormy weather.

T'were it my trip, I would focus three nights in Galway, two nights in Killarney and Two nights in Kinsale, rather than Cork City, and leave Mayo out of the equation.

Whilst in Galway, you can do a loop which encompasses both the Connemara Park and Cong. Likewise, enroute from Galway to Killarney, you can take in the Cliffs and a Burren stop. Due to your indication that "Good Food" is something yyou wish to experience, I suggested Kinsale as it is the Gourmet capitol for Southern Ireland/

As Michele already noted, November has shorter daylight hours which will curtail much long distance sight seeing. If possible, choose your lodgings at City Centre. That way, you can check-in by three in the afternoon and explore the town on foot.

Slan Beo,

Bit

tony2phones · Guru

Think I must have missed something on my trip to Kinsale?? If Gourmet means paying way over the top for the type of food I have a laf at then perhaps not? There is a lot of good high class eating to be had all over Ireland, but in a country where the basics can be high priced, fancy eating is only for those willing to pay silly money for. If you can fit Listowel into your schedule on the 4th then the Food fair is in town, unfortunately you wont get the view of the Irish fishing fleet or pay exadurated tourist prices but the town is typicaly Irish and has a lot to offer. ( you could also fit it into a trip either side of the Shannon)

http://www.listowelfoodfair.com/

http://www.listowel.ie/welcome.htm

Monty · Senior Member

I tend to agree about Kinsale. While I like the town, the prices there keep me from returning when I am over in Ireland. Maybe I'm not real picky, but I find plenty of food there that I like, so paying the heftier prices in Kinsale didn't appeal to me after the initial visit. Everything there was a bit more pricey, including lodging, and even petrol.

Great setting, lovely town, but more expensive in many areas.

-- Edited by Monty on Friday 15th of October 2010 09:05:06 AM

Michele Erdvig · Host

Kinsale has "grabbed" the title gourmet capital of Ireland and run with it. There are some restaurants where you can get good food without paying the moon and stars for it - ditto good B&Bs - if you know which ones to choose. But there are many pretentious places there also.

I agree with Tony that there are wonderful places to eat all over Ireland. Prices for food are higher everywhere than we are used to in the USA. We are spoiled for choice (lots of competition) here.

Michele

MotherAndSon · Newbie

Thank you so much everyone.
plan is as follows
day 1 - dublin - ashford castle, cong
day 2 - ashford castle - connemarra - galway
day 3 - galway - doolin
day 4 - doolin - dingle
day 5 - dingle to killarney
day 6 - killarney (possibly stay somewhere in between killarney and dublin as we have a 4:30pm flight out of dublin - anyone have any advice on this, it seems like a long drive from killarney to dublin? where might be good to stay in the middle; so we can enjoy most of the day in killarney and then drive a few hours on the rd to dublin and stay for the night?)
day 7 - wherever that is - dublin and fly to london.

Does this sound like a good plan?

tony2phones · Guru

Sounds like a typical road trip. Possible but 50% in the car and 40% in bed 10% actually seeing things. I am sorry but playing devils advocate there is too much driving and not enough experiencing. Cashel or Cahir might be stop overs between Killarney and Dublin if you do keep everything in.

-- Edited by tony2phones on Friday 15th of October 2010 01:59:22 PM

Michele Erdvig · Host

MotherAndSon,

It is what we call "the green blur tour" of Ireland. I would cut out either Ashford/Cong/Galway or Dingle/Killarney. If the green blur is what you want then Tony's suggestion of Cashel or Cahir is good. From Cashel it is about 2 hours drive to the airport on a new motorway. But give yourself extra time in case of traffic on the M50.

Michele